Any time a healthcare professional, patient, or
consumer experiences an unintentional event that could have been prevented in
regards to medication or medication use, which may or may not have resulted in
patient harm, it is considered a medication error.1 Each year, more
patients die from potentially preventable medications errors in the U.S. than
from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), breast cancer, or even motor
vehicle accidents. As a patient, it
is important to be thoroughly informed about the medications you are taking and
why you are taking them. In doing
so, you will be better able to not only take care of yourself, but also help
prevent errors that may possibly have harmful consequences.
As a patient and a consumer, there are 10 simple
things you can do in order to help prevent medications errors. Unfortunately, not all medication
errors are preventable, but by following these steps, you can help to keep
yourself and your loved ones safe and iof you ever have questions please stop into UIC Pharmacy or consult your UIC pharmacist.
1. Make
sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist all of the medications you are taking.2
This includes over the counter and herbals
products, such as vitamins and minerals, not just prescription medications.
Many medications may interact with each other, but those interactions cannot be
caught if your healthcare provider is not aware of everything you are taking. It may also be helpful to keep a
medication list handy, including the name (both brand and generic), dose, and
what you are taking it for, so that you can quickly supply your healthcare
provider with this information, instead of trying to recall it from memory.
2. Make
sure your doctor and pharmacist are aware of any potential allergies you may
have.2
This includes allergies to both medications and to
foods. It is also important to let
your healthcare provider know if you have taken a medication in the past that
resulted in an adverse reaction. By
providing this information, you can help to prevent taking similar medications
that may produce a similar effect.
Be sure to also tell your healthcare provider the type of reaction you
experienced with these medications, whether it may have been an upset stomach,
rash, or difficulty breathing. All
of this information can help to determine the severity of the reaction.
3. Know
the reason why you are taking each medication.3
Often times, individuals start taking medications
prescribed to them by their doctor without knowing exactly why they are taking them.
It is necessary to know the importance of each medication you are taking, if it
is appropriate, and how it is impacting your health. In doing so, you can take
charge of your health, and play an active role with the healthcare team. If you
receive a medication from a pharmacy and you are not sure why you are taking
it, be sure to ask. Also, never take a medication from a friend or family
member that was not prescribed for you.4,5 The dose or the
medication itself may not be appropriate or it may interact with other
medications.
4. Make
sure you can read the doctors handwriting for new prescriptions.2
Historically speaking, doctors may not always have
the best handwriting when writing prescriptions for their patients. In order to
prevent any misinterpretation of the medication name or dosing, make sure you
can read what is written, and confirm that with your doctor. This action alone
may be able to prevent a majority of medication errors, where the wrong
medication might be dispensed, or the right medication is dispensed, but at an
inappropriate dose. If you are not able to read it, chances are your pharmacist
might not be able to read it either.
5. Store
medications in a safe, secure place.4,5
Keep medications out of reach from children and
pets, for example in an elevated cabinet or a locked drawer. If children do
accidently ingest medications that are not intended for them, be sure to call
poison control at 1-800-222-1222. It is also important to not store medications
in the bathroom medicine cabinet or in places of humidity, heat, or direct
sunlight; this could affect the potency and safety of the medication.
6. Keep
medications in their original bottles.4,5
Always keep your medications in their original
bottles and take them with the lights on so that you know exactly which
medication you are taking. This
will ensure that you are taking the right medications at the right doses. Many
medications look very similar, and it is easy to get them mixed up. Also, each
time that you take a medication, double check the bottle for the name; the dose;
the number of pills per dose; and how to take the medication in order to
prevent taking the wrong medication or wrong dose, which could potentially lead
to serious negative effects.
7. Know
what to do if you miss a dose.3
It is hard to never miss a dose when taking medications,
so it is imperative to know what to do when it happens. Procedures differ
depending on how many doses were missed and what medication you are
taking. Some medications recommend
taking the dose as soon as you remember, skipping the dose completely and just
waiting until your next scheduled dose, or doubling up on the medication for
your next dose. It is important to ask your pharmacist what to do in the case
of a missed dose in order to prevent under dosing or over dosing your
medication.
8. Know
what side effects are common with each of your medications.3-5
It is helpful to know what side effects are common
with the medications you are taking, so when you start taking them, you will be
aware of what you might expect. Not all patients experience adverse reactions
to their medications, but it may be possible. Be sure to report any problems
you have to your doctor or your pharmacist; there might be other medication
options available for you that might not produce those same side effects, and
the pharmacist can work with the doctor to suggest an alternative. Many side
effects are fairly common, and may disappear after your body adjusts to the
medication. However, It is also
important to be aware of what adverse effects are harmful, and require you to
contact a healthcare provider immediately in case they occur. This may also
help to prevent false identification of allergic reactions to your medications.
9. Know
when and how to take your medications.3-5
Some medications should be taken in the morning on
an empty stomach; some should only be taken with food or after meals; others
should be taken at bedtime. It is
vital to know when to take your medication, and how often during the day. Taking
your medications at the same time every day may also be very important in terms
of efficacy and safety. Also, it is important to know whether your medication
can be chewed or crush, or if it needs to be swallowed whole. For example, some
long-acting medications work too quickly if they are chewed, and might result
in increased absorption and possible toxicity. Other medications might not be
effective at all if crushed or chewed, or you might experience adverse effects
in these cases. Also, when taking a liquid medication, only use the dosing
device that came with it or was provided at the pharmacy; you might want to ask
your pharmacist what device would be most appropriate and how to accurately
measure. Household teaspoons and tablespoons vary in size, and should never be
used.
10. Ask
questions and build a relationship with your healthcare providers.2
In order to receive the best treatment available,
and to avoid any medication errors, it is important to be able to trust your
healthcare providers, and develop a relationship with them. You should be able
to ask them any questions you want about your medications or your disease
states, and feel confident in the answer they give you. If something does not
seem right with your medications, or you are unsure how to take them, ask your
pharmacist – that is what they are there for. Often times, medication errors
are prevented because the patient questioned something that they knew was not
right.
You should take responsibility for your health, and
it is important to realize that you are in control. With the guidance and support
of your doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers that you may come
in contact with, you will know that you are doing all that you can in order to help
prevent medication errors from happening to you and those you care about.
References
1. Preventing medication errors. Pharmacist’s
Letter. Self-study course #100305. 2010;305.
2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 20
tips to help prevent medical errors. http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.html.
Accessed August 8, 2011.
3. About.com. Preventing medication errors.. http://copd.about.com/od/livingwithcopd/tp/avoid-med-errors.html.
Accessed August 8, 2011.
4. Pharmacists.com. Avoiding medication errors.
American Pharmacist Association. http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Pharmacy_Today2&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=3546.
Accessed August 8, 2011.
5. Institute for Safe Medicine Practices. Consumers.
http://search.ismp.org/cgi-bin/hits.pl?in=517791&fh=80&ph=1&tk=le%26%3FEITrEwu%20e%26%3FEITrEwuz%3A%20%26bbwb%3A%20%26bbwbz%3A%20e%26%3FEITrEwu%3A%20%26bbwb&su=upaaJ%26WWddd.bXFJ.iCLWPi_XfFuCXWeuwqfra.qXJ&qy=nwKWk%26I_kpL%20KQQpQr&pd=1.
Accessed August 8, 2011.
By: Lauren Tramutola, PharmD Candidate, 2012
